It is your responsibility, as a user of public lands, to ensure you
are informed of all current rules and regulations relevant to your activities.
Many wildlife/game area maps provide more information using a
"standard back" [PDF]
on maps in this series; however, some wildlife/game area maps contain special
area-specific information on the back which users need to read.
Ensure that you read and understand the
Important Regulatory & Land-use Related Comments for Wildlife/Game Areas;
if you have questions, contact a DNR office.

Wildlife/game areas:

Is a combination grouping of several types of areas
providing possible hunting and trapping opportunities,
but can have differing regulations or requirement details.

These are either administered and managed by the DNR Wildlife Division,
or co-managed by the DNR Wildlife Division under another administering
DNR Division or another agency:

Administered and managed by Wildlife Division:
State Game Areas (SGA), State Wildlife Areas (SWA),
State Fish and Wildlife Areas (SFWA), and State Wildlife Research Areas (SWRA),

Administered by a Federal agency or County Government
with Wildlife Division co-managing or involved:
Federal Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs) or other select cooperating Federal lands,
and one special County-owned cooperating area.

Contact:
Roscommon DNR Customer Service Center - Wildlife Office,
8717 North Roscommon Road (at I-75 & M-18 South), Roscommon, MI 48653;
@phone: 989-275-5151.Size in Acres (approx.):
4,993. Provided:
Area Map [PDF];
Habitat Mgmt Summary [PDF].
Note: Backus Creek Flooding SWMA, on the southern side, has officially been merged into this area,
so the flooding is no longer an independent area or named independently in listings.♦ This area has been dedicated for
wildlife conservation & management by the DNR Wildlife Division.

Beaver Islands State Wildlife Research Area in Charlevoix & Leelanau CountiesBeaver Islands SWRA includes the Beaver Island group &
Fox Island group.

Contact:
Gaylord DNR Customer Service Center - Wildlife Office,
1732 West Highway M-32, Gaylord, MI 49735; @phone:
989-732-3541.Size in Acres (approx.):
25,270. Provided:
Area Map [PDF];
Habitat Mgmt Summary [PDF].Note:
Due to its large size & special accessibility requirements (boats or planes),
this area has historically been managed out of two different offices, listed below:Beware: Some portions of islands or even small islands in the Beaver Island group are
privately owned, as is South Fox Island in the Fox Island group.

The Beaver Island Group in Charlevoix County (northern portion of area):Contact:
Gaylord DNR Customer Service Center - Wildlife Office,
1732 West Highway M-32, Gaylord, MI 49735; @phone:
989-732-3541.Size in Acres (approx.):
23,154 of State land in this unit (with more details on maps).Maps:
Unit Map [PDF].

The Fox Island Group in Leelanau County (southern portion of area):Contact:
Cadillac DNR Customer Service Center - Wildlife Office,
8015 Mackinaw Trail, Cadillac, MI 49601; @phone:
231-775-9727.Size in Acres (approx.):
2,116 of State land in this unit (with more details on maps).Maps: Fox Island group
Unit Map [PDF] includes South Fox
Island Map [PDF] & North Fox
Island Map [PDF].

♦This area has been dedicated for
wildlife conservation & management by the DNR Wildlife Division.

Bentley Marsh Flooding State Wildlife Management Area in Gladwin County:

Gene's Pond Flooding State Wildlife Management Area in Dickinson County:

Contact: Norway DNR Wildlife Office,
500 West Highway US-2, Norway, MI 49870; @phone:
906-563-9247 or 906-563-9077.Size in Acres (approx.):
3,450. Provided:
Area Map [PDF];
Habitat Mgmt Summary [PDF].Note: this area may also be called "Gene Lake"
in some plat books or other publications.♦ This area is co-managed for
wildlife by the DNR Wildlife & Forestry Divisions.

Hardwood Reservoir Flooding State Wildlife Management Area in Dickinson County:

Contact: Norway DNR Wildlife Office,
500 West Highway US-2, Norway, MI 49870; @phone:
906-563-9247 or 906-563-9077.Size in Acres (approx.):
1,390. Provided:
Area Map [PDF];
Habitat Mgmt Summary [PDF].Note: the actual "Hardwood Reservoir" is largely owned & controlled by
Dickinson County
and the Dickinson County Road Commission; however, at the north end there is
State Forest land with adjacent flooded lands affected by the water levels.♦ This area is co-managed for
wildlife by the DNR Wildlife & Forestry Divisions.

Manitou Island Group (reference map), cooperating Federal Land in Leelanau County:
Note: The Manitou Island Group includes North Manitou Island &
South Manitou Island.

Contact (DNR): Cadillac DNR Customer Service Center - Wildlife Office,
8015 Mackinaw Trail, Cadillac, MI 49601; @phone:
231-775-9727.Contact (US National Parks):
for day-to-day administration regarding area questions isU.S. Department of the Interior National Parks office atSleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore (National Park),
9922 Front Street, Empire, MI 49630;
headquarters @phone: 231-326-5134;
visitor center @phone: 231-326-5134 ext.328.Size in Acres (approx.):
19,750. Provided:Reference Map.Note: These Federal lands are managed as part of the
US National Parks Sleeping Bear Dunes
National Lakeshore, who provide a
visitor's Map, habitat information & other details.
In the past there has been limited by-special-permit-only hunting opportunities coordinated by
the local National Parks office working with the local DNR Wildlife office (listed above).♦ This area is cooperatively managed for
wildlife by the US National Parks and the DNR Wildlife Division.

Muskegon County Wastewater Special Management Area, cooperating county land
in Muskegon County:

Contact (DNR):
for DNR-related questions like the managed waterfowl hunt assisted by the DNR:
Muskegon DNR Wildlife Office,
7600 East Messinger Road, Twin Lake, MI 49457; @phone:
231-788-5055.Contact (Muskegon County)
for questions for county staff, like allowed access to area, for bird watching, hunting deer or other hunt or
trapping relatd activities, etc.:
Muskegon County Wastewater Management System Office,
698 North Maple Island Road, Muskegon, MI 49442; @phone:
231-724-3440.Size in Acres (approx.):
8,411 (non-restricted area only). Provided:
Area Map [PDF];
.★
Access permission from the
Muskegon Co. Wastewater Mgmt Sys. Office
is required for entering this area for any reason; the only exception is
heading into the area to the office at the center of the property
when seeking permission or picking up local access permits.Note: portions of this area are huntable, but require
special procedures for permission and a special local permit from the
Muskegon Co. Wastewater Mgmt Sys. Office;
when in doubt, contact the
Muskegon Co. Wastewater Mgmt Sys. Office
and discuss your desired plans with them for confirmation first before doing anything.♦ This area is managed for
wildlife by Muskegon County with cooperative assistance by the DNR Wildlife Division.